Toy cannon



April 19, 1932.

i e! w. WALKER TOY CANNON Filed April 4, 1931 'IITW Patented Apr. 19, 1932 GEORGE WILLIAM WALKER, F ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 013 ONE-HALF TO 'WM.

TOMAS PEEK,

TOY CANNON OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA Application filed April 4, 1931. Serial No. 52?,801.

This invention relates to toy cannons of that type which operates through the explosion of acetylene gas.

The invention has for its general object the provision of a toy cannon which for a given capacity of combustion space shall make the maximum noise, produced with the minimum of danger.

One of the more specific objects of the invention is the construction of a toy cannon along scientific lines so as to limit the explosion pressure to a value such that the cannon will not burst, although made of thin sheet metal.

Another object of the invention is so to proportion the diameter of a combustion chamber to its length that the muzzle velocity of the expanding gas shall be at a minimum.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a toy cannon characterized by the absence of moving parts for efiecting the charging and the setting off of the charge, ignition being by means of a gas fuse issuing from a fine touch hole under pressure of the generating gas within the combustion chamber.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof pro 39 ceeds.

In the drawings in which the same characters of reference have been used throughout the several figures to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy cannon, the axle being shown in section w1th one of the wheels removed;

Figure 2 is an end elevation looking toward the muzzle; and

Figure 3 is a bottom view.

Referring now to the several figures, the barrel 1 is preferably formed of sheet metal having a closed rear end 2 provided preferably in the axis of the barrel with a fine 45 touch hole 3. A friction cap 4 fits on the muzzle end of the barrel.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the barrel is relatively short and relatively large in diameter at its muzzle end. In the ap- 0 proved form of the invention,

the length of the barrel is approximately only twice its mean diameter.

These proportions are chosen in deference to the scientific principle that where the explosion takes place in a cubical mass of gas that is to say, a mass whose length, width and depth dimensions are equal, the all dlrections to flame propagation extends in the llmits of the mass in substantially the same time and consequently there is comparatively little muzzle velocity developed.

The ideal dimensions would be to have the barrel of the same length as its diameter, but this would be so little simulative of an actual cannon made to that a certain concession must be the shape. However, with the dimensions approximately two to one as herein'illustrated and described, the muzzle velocity of the explosion is very small. This ensures that for a maximum amount of noise,

the friction cap 4 will be projected with least force and to the least distance.

of cours Since non sha the This e, is a measure of safety.

it is contemplated that this toy canll be cheaply made as, for instance that provision be made to prevent bursting of the barrel.

In View of the relatively large diameter of the muzzle to the length of the barrel, very little pressure will be built up in the cannon, the value of such pressure being limited by the frictional resistance of the cap 4. hen the acetylene mixture explodes the cap is blown off at once capes fr and the pressure eseely without being about to exert an excessive pressure on the walls of the barrel. In the operation of this toy cannon, it is necessar remove calcium y merely to rest it on its fiat end 2, the cap 4, drop in a small lump of carbide and a small quantity of water for instance a teaspoonful. The cap is then replaced and the cannon placed in 1ts normal position resting upon bracket with the wheels 6 and the bracket 5 the ground. The length of the 5 is such that the lower wall of the cannon inclines backward toward the closed end so that any water deposited in the cannon, and also the lump of calcium carbide, will gravitat water w e toward the back end where the ill react with the calcium carbide in the production of the acetylene. The function of the cap 4: is not as a projectile but merely as a means for confining the acetylene gas until the moment of explosion. The touch hole 3 is placed at an axial position so that it will be above the point where the acetylene gas is richest and least explosive and below the point at which the acetylene mixture is lean and probably most explosive. As the acetylene gas is generated a certain mild pressure will be built up causing the issuance of a jet of acetylene mixture through the touch hole 3. This is ignited with a match and the explosion takes place accompanied by an unusually loud noise and a blowing off of the cap I which, however, is hereinbefore stated is projected only a short distance and with little force due to the scientifically designed shape of the barrel of the cannon.

In order to add a factor of safety to the construction, the combustion chamber is encompassed by a reinforcing band 7, the lower ends 8 of which afi'ord a support for the axle 9 as shown in Figure 2.

A handle 10 is also provided so positioned that it is above the wheels and axle and spanning the Zone encompassed by the reinforcing band. This position of the handle is chosen so that if it is attempted to fire the cannon while suspending it in the hand, the weight of the wheels and axle will cause the barrel to be directed horizontally and not upwardly toward the face of the one operating it.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the principles of the invention can be carried out, embodied in various forms and that the details of construction as shown and described are merely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

A toy acetylene cannon comprising a relatively short and wide barrel, closed at one end and having a fine touch hole in said closed end, a reinforcing strip emcompassing said barrel, an axle supported on the ends of said strip, Wheels on said axle, said barrel having an additional support of such height as to incline said barrel toward its closed end, and a handle for said barrel fixed to the upper part thereof above said wheels and axle and spanning the zone occupied by said reinforcing strip.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

GEORGE WILLIAM WALKER. 

